Name: Pork and bean jaffles with pickled jalapeños and spiced scratchings
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 240 min
Total time: 300 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 50 ml olive oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 400 gm canned crushed tomatoes; 200 gm dried white beans, soaked overnight in cold water, drained; 1 smoked ham bone; 1 fresh pork hock (about 1kg); 2 chipotle chillies in adobo (see note); 16 thick slices square white bread; 80 gm softened butter; 350 gm coarsely grated cheddar; Pickled jalapeños; 650 ml white wine vinegar; 60 gm caster sugar; 1 tbsp sea salt flakes; 1 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed; 1 tsp black peppercorns; 1 garlic clove, bruised; 500 gm (about 12) green or red jalapeños; Spiced scratchings; 250 gm piece pork skin, fat removed; 4 tbsp sea salt flakes; For deep-frying: vegetable oil; 1 tsp fennel seeds; 1 tsp coriander seeds; Finely grated rind of ½ lemon

If you don’t have a jaffle-maker you can carefully toast these sandwiches in a sandwich press or char-grill pan. You’ll need to begin this recipe two days ahead.

Ingredients

50 ml olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

400 gm canned crushed tomatoes

200 gm dried white beans, soaked overnight in cold water, drained

1 smoked ham bone

1 fresh pork hock (about 1kg)

2 chipotle chillies in adobo (see note)

16 thick slices square white bread

80 gm softened butter

350 gm coarsely grated cheddar

Pickled jalapeños

650 ml white wine vinegar

60 gm caster sugar

1 tbsp sea salt flakes

1 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed

1 tsp black peppercorns

1 garlic clove, bruised

500 gm (about 12) green or red jalapeños

Spiced scratchings

250 gm piece pork skin, fat removed

4 tbsp sea salt flakes

For deep-frying: vegetable oil

1 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp coriander seeds

Finely grated rind of ½ lemon

Method

Main

1.For pickled jalapeños, bring vinegar, sugar, salt, coriander, peppercorns, garlic and 650ml water to the simmer in a saucepan over medium heat, stir to dissolve sugar and set aside to cool to room temperature. Place jalapeños in a sterilised container, add pickling liquid, refrigerate to pickle (2 days). Pickled jalapeños with keep refrigerated for 2 months.

2.Preheat oven to 160C. Heat oil in a large casserole over medium heat, add onion and garlic, stir until tender (8-10 minutes). Add tomato, beans, ham bone, pork hock, chillies and 300ml water, cover and braise in oven until meat is very tender (2-3 hours). Remove pork hock and simmer beans over medium heat until thick and reduced (20 minutes). Meanwhile, shred pork (discard sinew and bone). Remove ham bone from beans (discard) and set beans aside to cool, then stir in pork, season to taste and refrigerate until required.

3.For spiced scratchings, scatter pork skin with half the sea salt flakes, place on a wire rack over an oven tray and refrigerate to dry out (2 hours). Reduce oven to 120C. Pat skin dry with absorbent paper and dry in oven until slightly crisp (10-15 minutes). Pat dry with absorbent paper and set aside. Heat oil in a deep-sided frying pan or deep-fryer to 180C. Meanwhile, combine remaining salt and remaining ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Cut pork skin into 2cm x 6cm pieces and deep-fry in batches until golden and puffed (2-3 minutes; be careful as hot oil will spit). Drain well on absorbent paper and scatter with spiced salt.

4.Preheat a jaffle-maker. Butter bread and place butter-side down on a work surface. Top half the slices with bean mixture, scatter with cheese, top with remaining bread and cook in batches until golden and warmed through (4-5 minutes). Serve warm with pickled jalapeños and spiced scratchings.

Note Chipotle chillies in adobo are available in cans from select delicatessens and Monterey Mexican Foods.
Drink Suggestion: Bottle of ice-cold lager. Drink suggestion by Max Allen
Notes

Styling by Emma Knowles

Styling by Alice Storey

Styling by Lucy Weight

Ingredients

Method

Main

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